Faculty Spotlight: Tim Clifford

Tim CliffordDepartment: Humanities

Tim Clifford admits to being a little selfish when it comes to teaching.

"It allows me to be a perpetual student. I am constantly learning new things to share
with my students, while also learning new things from my students," he said. "On top
of that, there is really no greater satisfaction than seeing a student come to understand
or appreciate an idea, topic or piece for the first time or in a new way."

Clifford's childhood allowed him to explore different topics that gave him an opportunity
to constantly learn about new things.

"I grew up in a household with an eclectic collection of music albums -- everything
from the 'classical' greats like Bach and Beethoven to the jazz standards of Dave
Brubeck and Ramsey Lewis," he said. "I was also fascinated by the incredible early
American history of New York, a state I grew up in. Lastly, I was influenced by my
aunt and uncle who were language teachers and had a home full of books, artwork and
trinkets from Europe."

Clifford earned his Bachelor of Arts from North Central College and his Masters of
Music from Northern Illinois University. His work experience includes teaching music
to both children and adults before coming to College of DuPage.

He finds inspiration everywhere, and he wants his students to feel the same way.

"Sometimes my inspiration comes from my brilliant colleagues here at the College,
and sometimes my inspiration is given to me by my Dean and Associate Dean," he said.
"Often I get a lot of inspiration from the great aesthetic works produced over the
course of human history. I know of no better way to reinvigorate my awe for human
achievement than to listen to a fugue by J.S. Bach or to look at a painting by René
Magritte.

"I hope my students gain a renewed or deepened curiosity about the world around them.
I am doing a disservice to my students if I can't spark their 'intellectual imagination,'
as Bertrand Russell put it."

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